Training to enhance the tourism industry's responsibility towards wildlife conservation in Ho Chi Minh City.

The project, organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Vietnamese CITES representative - the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, aims to update knowledge and enhance responsibility among tour guides, travel agencies, accommodation establishments, tourist attractions, and shopping destinations to promote communication efforts to change tourist behavior and reduce the demand for and trade of wildlife products.

The opening ceremony of the training course was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Hong Long - Head of the Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Dr. Tran Anh Tien - Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Science Management, Director of Van Khoa Science and Tourism Services Co., Ltd., University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City; Dr. Ngo Thanh Loan - Director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism Development, VASST; and over 60 trainees. Lecturers and participants included Dr. Pham Quy Ty - former Deputy Minister of Justice; Dr. Le Khac Quyet - Deputy Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Endangered Species Conservation; Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Project Coordinator; and Ms. Nguyen My Ha - Behavior Change Communication Expert of the USS project.

In his opening remarks at the training course, Associate Professor Pham Hong Long affirmed the position and strong development of tourism in Ho Chi Minh City in recent years, as well as the importance of the contributions made by the tourism industry's personnel. He also thanked USAID & CITES, the international sponsors of these meaningful activities aimed at widely disseminating knowledge and raising awareness to change tourists' behavior and reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products.
Over two days of intensive study and enthusiastic sharing from experts, the trainees gained access to a wealth of useful knowledge that is practically applicable to the tourism industry. Lecturers shared information on ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife in Vietnam, updated participants on current Vietnamese laws regarding administrative and criminal penalties for wildlife violations, and discussed the impact of the tourism industry on ecosystem and wildlife protection. The program also received positive feedback from project representatives on the effectiveness of communication in changing consumer behavior. The training not only delivered useful knowledge but also received enthusiastic participation from the trainees, who volunteered to implement wildlife protection communication at their businesses through banner displays and pledge signing.

The training course fostered a strong connection among participants who shared a common interest in wildlife conservation. Participants experienced initial changes in their awareness, roles, and responsibilities, as well as those of their businesses and the tourism industry, regarding the protection of ecosystems in general and wildlife in particular.

To participate in supporting the program, readers can sign and share a pledge not to consume illegally sourced wild animals, plants, and products derived from wild animals at the following link: https://bit.ly/baoveDVHD